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“Time for a new challenge”: Carrie Bickmore quits The Project

"It's been the hardest decision of my professional life to make this call, but it's time for a new challenge."

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Carrie Bickmore has quit The Project after a 13 year run and will finish at the end of the year.

“After 13 years at The Project desk, I have made a tough decision to finish up hosting the show at the end of the year. It’s been the hardest decision of my professional life to make this call. But it’s time for a new challenge. It is time for my next chapter. ” she said.

“There’s so much I’m gonna miss. I’m gonna miss my best mates on the desk, the job itself, which is just so incredibly fulfilling, our wonderful viewers who’ve been on the journey over the last 13 years. It’s no secret that this show has become a second home to me. I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone that has been involved on and off screen.”

She continued, “I absolutely love it here, but this show is so much in my DNA and I don’t know who I am without it. I want to go to more piano practices, cricket training sessions… I think with any big decision, there’s going to be doubt and I’m leaving at a time that I’m so happy to be here which feels confusing, but I just know it’s time.”

She added, “I’m not retiring. I’m just gonna move on to something different, which I do not know what that is yet.’

Beverley McGarvey, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Paramount ANZ, said: “Carrie Bickmore is synonymous with The Project, having graced our screens and won our hearts during the premiere episode on July 20, 2009.

“I know this has been a very difficult decision for Carrie, and although we are all very sad that she will no longer be on The Project we fully respect her decision and wish her nothing but the best for her next adventure.

“Carrie has been a wonderful host of the The Project for the past 13 years, and she has also been a respected, valued and much-loved member of the 10 family for the past 17 years, when she appeared every week as the popular newsreader on Rove Live.

“Her genuine warmth, empathy, passion, humanity and humour have always resonated with viewers. It’s no wonder audiences welcomed her night after night into their loungerooms and onto their screens.

“There have been many magical Carrie moments and we look forward to celebrating these when we farewell Carrie on Wednesday, November 30. We hope to work together again.”

This post updates.

28 Responses

  2. Carrie Moving to ACA makes no sense. Same time slot, mainly reading an autocue and a lonely solo thing. Carrie works best with others. Also today Show would be a slog for her with young kids as she already had the best TV job going. Did find it interesting that she said she is not retiring from TV and she did avoid Kates question about ACA so its possible she has a bigger offer from elsewhere and it was interesting she announced it when Waleed was away. Maybe there is something bigger going on?

  3. As Tom Gleeson once said, “Channel Nine has run out of stars” so they’re probably keen to sign her. I just can’t visualise Carrie’s face on those sneering ACA promos. The Today show would be a better fit but a huge gamble. Breakfast radio is my guess – big money and fairly cushy.

  5. Congrats on your time with The Project Carrie. I must admit I’ve watched most episodes during the 13 years.
    The warmth, humour and love you have brought to we the viewers is much appreciated.. Wishing all good things to you and your family for the future.

  7. Sad news. Although she’s hardly been on over the past year, she was the only reason for watching (Waleed when he’s serious at a stretch). She is a natural and likeable TV presence and I will follow her to whatever TV she does next.

  8. Very sad that Carrie is leaving The Project. But good luck to her with whatever she does next. And I hope she doesn’t leave 10. I would love to see her get her own show.

  9. Congrats Carrie on an amazing 13 years. The show is so much better when she is hosting. Her natural warmth compassion and non-opinion style is like nobody else on tv. The project will not be the same without her. Could even be the end of it within the 12 months. Interesting she has not mentioned doing other projects with the network. I feel she has been offered big bucks to go elsewhere and would be worth the investment for another network.

  10. Congrats to her 13 years with the project.
    With such a range of co-hosts in recent years, hopefully she will not be missed.
    I prefer consistency with hosts and it seems different people every day.

  11. The Project really has been defined by Carrie’s heartfelt authentic approach and vulnerability. That will be hard to replace. It has certainly given the show a warmth. Pete Heliar is a great unheralded MVP for me.

  12. I personally feel the show needs a shake up and a refresh. Reducing the number of presenters won’t be a bad thing. I feel 2 plus a guest is plenty. They should look to move it to a 6-7pm time slot. This allows them to start their reality shows from 7pm.

    1. Back in early 2012, they tried having THe Project in its 6pm timeslot and expanding as a Sunday bulletin. Unfortunately, they were smashed by Seven and Nine news in its timeslot. The Project rates well in terms of demos in its 7pm timeslot.
      Their big problem was that 10 couldnt establish well in its 6pm timeslot for many years. Over the past 16 years, they’ve chopped and changed programs in its 6pm timeslot.

  13. Good riddance. She’s become increasingly insufferable over the years for me. Sounds harsh but she and Waleed are the reason I don’t watch the Project. One down. 13 years is phenomenal of course and she deserves acknowledgment of that… but I’m seeing this as the shot in the arm The Project needs.

  14. I hear Tracy Grimshaw will soon be availlable? In all seriousness, 13 years is a remarkable amount of time. Maybe it’s a good time to give the show a bit of a shake up…Georgie Tunny has been a good get for the show, hopefully she may be on more nights in the future. Realised Carrie was the last original member of the panel still with the show after Charlie and Hughesy left some time ago.

    2. George has found her feet on The Project. Was not a fan on ABC News Breakfast but her interview with Jamie Lee Curtis last night was brilliant.

  16. Glad she’s moving on – because I think she’s far better than this show tbh. I thought her time off middle of this year might lead to this. Absolutely love Carrie, I think she is a great asset wisely underused.

    I wonder where this leaves her radio show (if any change at all).

    And/or what network will want to try and snap her up for a morning television / ACA hosting job (although based her on words, doubtful she’d move to ACA, but stranger things have happened…).

  17. 13 years on The Project is nothing to be sneezed about. That is a great run, even if she is only a few nights a week now instead of 5 nights a week.

    “Spending more time with family” is the usual saying when they people leave shows. But i wonder if she’ll still be doing her daily radio work next year. Or something else is in the pipeline?

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